A SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. TITLE

Ceremonies in Dark Old Men

Full-Length Play, Drama  /  2w, 5m

Lonne Elder III

"A drama of power and importance. The best play of the season."-N.Y. Post.

"Reminded me irresistibly of O'Casey. Its mood, poised between comedy and tragedy, is identical, intensity of feeling and love of language are similar, and there is a com…

Ceremonies in Dark Old Men

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    2w, 5m

Details

Summary
Compared to A Raisin in the Sun by many critics, this drama shows us a family who aspire to better things but who go about in it in the wrong and tragic way. The father has a barbershop but no customers, and two sons and daughter. The sons are shiftless, and try to make a fast buck with home brew. It is the daughter who works and supports them all. Other characters of the family's Harlem neighborhood complete this portrait of one urban community at a pivotal time for the politics of race, business, and real estate.

Media

"A drama of power and importance. The best play of the season." - N.Y. Post

"Reminded me irresistibly of O'Casey. Its mood, poised between comedy and tragedy, is identical, intensity of feeling and love of language are similar, and there is a common cause in its undercurrents of rebellion. A remarkable play." - N.Y. Times

"Exciting drama, filled with meaningful insight and original comedy."-NBC TV

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: $120 per performance

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Authors

Lonne Elder III

Lonne Elder III
Lonne Elder III was an American playwright whose critically acclaimed masterwork, Ceremonies in Dark Old Men (1965, revised 1969), depicted the dreams, frustrations, and ultimate endurance of a black family living in the Harlem neighbourhood of New York City in the 1950s. ...
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